Voters in Kennebunk March 29 will decide two zoning related matters and on a citizen initiative to recall an RSU 21 director. Tammy Wells photo
KENNEBUNK – Registered voters in Kennebunk will act on referenda for a contract zone and a potential zone change when they go to the polls for a Special Town Meeting on March 29. Absentee voting is also available.
Voters will also act on a separate citizen initiative to recall Regional School Unit 21 director Tim Stentiford, whose term expires June 30.
Article 1 asks voters to decide a proposed zoning amendment that would reduce the lot width for multi-family homes in the York Street Mixed Residential and Commercial Use District from 200 feet to 100 feet.
According to a summary by Town Planner Brittany Howard to the planning board, based on the table supplied by the applicant, 21 out of 72 lots in the district would be permitted for multifamily projects under the current width standard.
“If the purpose of the district is to encourage mixed development, the current thresholds for lot width is a limiting factor for lot development,” Howard wrote, in part. She noted limits on development with parking requirements, green perimeter strip requirements, lot coverage, setbacks and other design criteria would remain.
The proposed change would only apply to multi-family homes proposed for the district.
Applicants seeking the proposal are Pete and Katie Gay of York, who have said the property they own, Tax Map 54, Lot 129, would be perfect for multi-family use.
Town engineer Chris Osterrieder told the select board in December that the proposed change would benefit several parcels in the district and provide more density.
Article 2 asks voters if they wish to approve a contract zone that would allow the construction of a home for a disabled veteran. The second referendum question asks voters to approve a change in the lot width, from 200 feet to 100 feet, for multi-family homes in the York Street Mixed Residential and Commercial Use District.
Homes for Our Troops builds adapted homes for severely injured service members in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of war since Sept. 11, 2001 according to the agency’s website and has built 324 homes nationwide since its founding n 2004, with an additional 73 underway. This would be their first home in Maine.
Homes for Our Troops is proposing to build a home for a veteran at 14 Perkins Lane. The single-family home would be on a lot that is not as large as first believed. Homes for Our Troops attorney Ralph Austin told the planning board that the lot was listed in municipal assessment records as being 3.3 acres. The agency learned after its 2019 purchase that the lot was slightly less than the minimum three-acre lot size, and with wetlands, the net buildable land is 2.5 acres.
The septic design for the property was approved in 2020.
Town attorney Natalie Burns told the select board Dec. 28 that under the terms of agreement with Homes for Our Veterans, the veteran assumes full ownership of the property in 10 years.
In response to a select board question, Burns said each contract zone is considered on its own merits, and so does not create a precedent.
In-person voting is 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 29 at town hall.
Those requesting an absentee ballot may call 207-985-2102, ext. 1602. To register to vote, pick up absentee ballots, or to vote absentee at town hall, visit during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Monday through Friday. Extended absentee voting hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 19-20 and until 7:30 p.m. on March 24.
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